Officials: We need more help in pistol permit offices
By: Chelsea Rarrick
Updated: January 17, 2013
The Governor's dream of tougher gun laws has some asking, who's going to pay for it?
New York State's new gun control law has caused more people to head to area pistol permit offices, and some officials say they need more help.
A lunch break is not on the agenda for Dan Sullivan today.
That's because the Assistant Pistol License Officer for Oneida County is too busy dealing with constant phone calls and working with customers like Robert Williams, who is registering a pistol he bought earlier that day.
"If I didn't get it now, a week from now when they start straightening these things out it's going to be impossible," said Williams.
With just having two other part timers in the office, Sullivan says they can't accomplish what the state is demanding with the new gun control law, and the increased rush of people coming in.
"It's not possible for me to handle the five year renewable licenses," said Sullivan. "I can't possibly renew 20 licenses a day and run 20 background checks a day."
And Oneida County's not the only one looking for help.
The Herkimer County Pistol Permit Office was closed today, but Sheriff Christopher Farber says he's been wanting another full time pistol permit clerk even before the new law.
"If we had another person, another clerk in the office that could help do the paperwork, do the filing, get the orders together," he said.
But to hire, they need money. Which is something Sheriff Farber says they don't have.
"There's really no funding in our budget to add people to do these mandated things that the Governor's imposed," said Sheriff Farber.
New York State's new gun control law has caused more people to head to area pistol permit offices, and some officials say they need more help.
A lunch break is not on the agenda for Dan Sullivan today.
That's because the Assistant Pistol License Officer for Oneida County is too busy dealing with constant phone calls and working with customers like Robert Williams, who is registering a pistol he bought earlier that day.
"If I didn't get it now, a week from now when they start straightening these things out it's going to be impossible," said Williams.
With just having two other part timers in the office, Sullivan says they can't accomplish what the state is demanding with the new gun control law, and the increased rush of people coming in.
"It's not possible for me to handle the five year renewable licenses," said Sullivan. "I can't possibly renew 20 licenses a day and run 20 background checks a day."
And Oneida County's not the only one looking for help.
The Herkimer County Pistol Permit Office was closed today, but Sheriff Christopher Farber says he's been wanting another full time pistol permit clerk even before the new law.
"If we had another person, another clerk in the office that could help do the paperwork, do the filing, get the orders together," he said.
But to hire, they need money. Which is something Sheriff Farber says they don't have.
"There's really no funding in our budget to add people to do these mandated things that the Governor's imposed," said Sheriff Farber.
